Odin from Lejre already shown at the Roskilde Museum

An exceptional archaeological find was made during the excavations made by the Roskilde Museum in Lejre. A figure of Odin sitting on its throne (Lidskjalv) was found for the first time.

The story is about a naked figure of 2 sm. of height – despite its size the find is very unique and can be considered as one of the most considerable finds of ancient Denmark.  The figure represents a god Odin sitting on its throne. Consists of silver with gilding and incrustation with black metal alloy.

Among all northern gods Odin is the supreme god well represented with two birds sitting on the throne arms. They are two ravens of Odin, Huginn and Muninn, who fly all day long and in the evening they return home and tell Odin about everything they have seen.

Skilfully made chair – Odin`s throne or so-called Lidskjalv. It gives Odin magic power and he can view all the world sitting on it. These attributes are associated with Odin as an all-seeing and all-knowing god. Images of Odin on its throne have been mentioned in the 19th c. national romanticists` works and in late 20th c. stories and now there is a real historical copy – the age of Vikings copy (750-1050).

Odin was a king of gods, but also a god of kings. That were the kings that required the features associated with this small figure and that is why the figure had such a great meaning. As we have already mentioned the figure has been found during the excavations of the Roskilde Museum in Lejre, that is famous by its first legendary royal residention of Danes in medieval chronicles and sagas. Anyway, this find confirms the ideas about Lejre as a royal area.

Roskilde Museum will show the figure as soon as possible.

 

 

Original text, photo: Historie-Online.dk